Chicago recognizes bike parking as alternative to car parking

The reforms, expected to be introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting, would allow developers to benefit from transit-oriented development incentives if they build within 1,360 feet of a transit station, up from the 600 feet allowed now. Along pedestrian-designated streets, which are streets with high concentrations of retail stores, the zones would expand to 2,640 feet, up from 1,200 feet.

Residential developers in those expanded zones would not be required to provide any off-street parking spaces if they provide one bike parking spot for each unit in the building, plus offer either a bike rental station or car-share station on site. If a developer can't provide a station, it would need to provide a financial contribution to a bike-sharing station nearby.